San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Anthony Davis (76) blocks New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) during the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

On Thursday, 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman likened Chris Long to "a rolling ball of butcher knives," and Anthony Davis knows from experience how the Rams' defensive end can leave a mark.

In 2010, the 49ers' right tackle faced Long in Davis' ninth career game.

It wasn't a fair fight.

Davis, then a 21-year-old rookie, surrendered a sack, two quarterback hits and seven hurries to the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft. Fox analyst Tim Ryan was in the broadcast booth at Candlestick Park on Nov. 14, 2010, and remembers Long delivering a welcome-to-the-NFL performance.

"Chris destroyed him," Ryan said. "I mean, Anthony was a 21-year-old kid out of Rutgers. That pro football, that's a different ballgame out there."

On Sunday, Ryan will be back in the booth at Candlestick when St. Louis visits the 49ers. This time, he expects to see a far more competitive matchup between Long and Davis, the No. 11 pick in the 2010 draft who is earning recognition as one of the league's elite right tackles.

Last week, Sports Illustrated's Peter King named Davis to his midseason All-Pro team, terming him the NFL's best at his position through eight games. Davis, who wasn't aware of the recognition, said the praise beats what he has received in the past.

"Yeah, it's cool that it's Peter King," Davis said. "Last year, he said a lot of negative stuff about me. So it's cool."

Since struggling while starting 16 games in a thrown-to-the-wolves rookie season, Davis has obviously developed. He has allowed three sacks and two quarterbacks hits this season, according to Pro Football Focus, with all three sacks and one hit coming in the 49ers' 26-3 loss to the Giants.

King said Davis "is one of the NFL's most improved tackles," and the 23-year-old will get a chance to measure his maturation when he gets reacquainted with Long. In four meetings against Long, Davis has allowed an average of a sack and 1.25 quarterback hits (he has allowed an average 0.56 sacks and 0.36 hits in his other 36 career games).

Long, who had a career-high 13 sacks last season, enters Sunday's meeting with four.

Pass protection is "going to be the one to watch," Ryan said. "Chris is an all-day sucker. He just goes and goes and goes, and he's talented."

Said Roman: Long "knows how to play leverage. He gives a lot of people fits. He's got a great bull rush. He's worn out some guys, really bad."

The list of tackles Long has tormented includes Davis, who is a far different player than he was two years ago. Long might be a rolling ball of butcher knives, but the ascending Davis now can counter that assault.

"Find a right tackle that's playing better than him," Roman said. "He's really come a long way in everything."

Injuries: Wide receiver Michael Crabtree (illness) and linebacker Patrick Willis (shoulder) were added to the injury report, but every player on the 53-man roster was a full participant in practice for the second straight day.